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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 579 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 404
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to support rural job creation and business expansion.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/11/2023 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 579 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 404
By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 404) of
Natalie M. Blais that the Secretary of Economic Development establish a rural development
initiative to support rural job creation and business expansion. Economic Development and
Emerging Technologies.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to support rural job creation and business expansion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following subsection in Section 16G:-
3 (o.)The secretary of economic development shall, in consultation with the Rural Policy
4Advisory Commission, establish a rural development initiative to be administered by the
5executive office through a contract with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency
6established by section 2 of chapter 23G. The initiative will provide technical assistance to
7identify and implement strategies that will spur direct investment in rural communities to create
8jobs and expand businesses, identify cross-sector partnerships, accelerate the engagement of
9community members in actionable planning, and implement local economic development
10initiatives.